Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

First, may I thank all who prepared and served my  unexpected 75th birthday party last Sunday, and for  all who were able to attend. It was indeed a surprise  and joyful celebration. I am sincerely grateful for your  good wishes and the beautiful cards and such generous gifts. It was the “fuel” that keeps me going. Bless  you. 

As we feel the chill in the air and see the spectacle of  color surrounding us we behold a beauty that soon  will fade and become lifeless. It seems to be an ending,  but in truth is only a dormancy, a slumber, until there  will be a fresh and new beginning. It means we always  live in expectation and anticipation. That is the basis  for the virtue of hope. The season of less-light creates  in us a longing for more light and that light is Jesus  Himself. The Lord enters into the dark to address  it and dispel it wherever it may be. Many times that  darkness is within us and in our relationships, particularly in that sacred and binding relationship between  a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Always, husbands and wives must remember, as  Jesus does in today’s Gospel, that He is the bond that  holds two persons together in marriage because He is  the author of human love and devotion. Thus, for man  and wife to be faithful to each other they must first  be faithful to Him. Faithfulness to Christ in married  and family life magnifies human love making it all the  stronger and more fruitful. Because our Lord is recognized and acknowledged as the bond then no trials or  difficulties are too difficult to handle. 

Our Lord in today’s Scriptures brings us back to “as  it was in the beginning”. He provides hope for those  who may be going through that darkness and cold  that Satan tries to exploit in trying times. May we be  humble enough to permit our Lord to always bring us  back to the beginning through repentance and confidence that He can and will make all things new. 

With Blessings, 

Father Langan 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

When we read the Sacred Scriptures or hear them  proclaimed at Mass and in prayer we are exposed  to the various genre (literary forms) from both the  Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek languages. Today’s Gos pel presents us with such in our Lord’s about avoiding  evil at all costs. It sounds like He is encouraging us to  disfigure ourselves lest we fall into sin. This is not the  case. 

Our Lord employs this quirky genre of hyperbole (exaggeration) to make a point, namely, we should avoid  anything that harms our relationship with God. This is  what we mean by “fear of the Lord”. 

Very often we are unaware of things which strain  that beautiful relationship, for instance: Time. Every  moment, every second, every minute, every hour,  every day, every….is a gift from God to us. He alone  knows how much of that time is allotted to each of  us. It begs the question: “how do I use the time gifted  to me? How do I make a return to the Lord for the  precious gift of time I have received?” Time itself is  amoral, neither good nor bad, but what we do with it  determines how we will spend timeless eternity. At  the end of the day when we make our daily examination of conscience recall how wisely or foolishly we  have spent our time. It can never be reclaimed. 

Speaking of time and right use of it, your parish needs  you to make good use of time by fulfilling the numerous lay ministries that build up our communal life;  immediately we are looking for an organist who can  temporarily fill in at St. Bernard’s while our present  organist is recovering. Upon her return to the keyboard there will be need for a sub from time to time;  always, we are in need of cantors, lectors, altar servers, both youth and adults, (some, and I hate to say  it) snow shovelers, help with grounds (weeding and  shrub cutting), and assistance with numerous projects  that all our properties entail. So if you feel you can  devote some of your time and talent to the betterment of your parish please give the parish office a call. 

God bless, 

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

     The second reading in today’s Sacred Scripture has a pertinent and special meaning for me and perhaps for yourselves.  In his letter to the Philippians St. Paul states, “If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.”  Though Paul is longing to be with the Lord, he finds joy and fulfillment in continuing service to the Lord and His people.  I feel the same way.

    As you know, or maybe not, that all bishops, priests and deacons must at the age of 75 submit their retirements to either the Holy father for bishops and to their bishop for priests. Since I have now turned 75, rather than submit my retirement to our bishop, I have asked him for an extension of my ministry here in greater Honesdale.  His Excellency has granted my request for another year and I am truly grateful.   I humbly ask you, my dear parishioners, to keep me in your prayers that God grant me the strength and fervor to serve you selflessly and with joy.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

September 12-13

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     As our children have returned to the classroom and are opening their minds to the wisdom and truths of God’s creation it also becomes a time for the inquiring mind to delve into the mystery and truth of the Catholic Faith.  On Sunday, September 27 at 2PM, in Holy Family Hall, we will begin the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.  The beginning stages are a time of asking questions and perhaps dispelling myths about our Faith.  Already we have several people who have made inquiries and will hopefully pursue more earnestly a desire to know and befriend the Lord.  The OCIA should not be seen as purely academic exercise.  Though it necessarily involves “knowing” truths it is equally important to see it as a growing relationship with Christ Who desires to lead us to the Father under the tutelage and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

     If you know anyone who may be interested, please direct them to call the parish office and register for the program.

     Also if anyone is interested in mentoring and assisting me in this catechetical ministry please contact me directly.

     It is expected that we will meet every 2 or 3 weeks until  Easter/Pentecost.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

September 5 & 6

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Gospel today presents us with a beautiful Aramaic word “Ephphatha” which should guide our contemplation throughout the coming week.  This word spoken by our Lord is from the language of His and His disciples daily speech.  It is distinct from but related to Hebrew which was used mainly for religious worship.  But it is a word that is familiar to us since it is invoked at our and all Baptisms.  Near the conclusion of the Rite the priest or deacon makes the Sign of the Cross over the lips and the ears of the newly Baptized praying that they receive the Word of God and joyfully proclaim Good News throughout the course of their lives. Yes indeed: “Be opened” , the meaning of this precious word.  But to what we might ask?  The cacophony of the world or the Truth that comes from He Who is the source of our existence?  We need always to  be open to the words of our Savior and to act upon them with a humble and generous heart.

     Sometimes those divine words can be very challenging and there may be the tendency to close or even shut down the Words of eternal life.  By God’s grace, which we receive especially through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist,  the worldly “wax” may be removed and the tongue untied to proclaim the goodness of the Lord.

    Now that the academic year has resumed, we pray that teachers and students alike will “be open” to the Truth of God’s beautiful world and take what they have learned to better themselves and those they encounter through life. 

       I would like to offer thanks to Kathy And Augie Stile who prepared for and brought about the excellent Golf Tournament this past Saturday.  They did a tremendous job for which we offer our utmost thanks.  The Lord blessed us with a perfect day and we’re grateful to Cricket Hill and all   those who participated in this important fundraiser.

     And have you ever been in the swarm of bees?   That’s what it has been like around the parish center.   There is an incredible cluster of women and men who have prepared for and are working the Annual Flea Market.  We have been blessed with a super abundance of donations for which we are grateful and extraordinary volunteers who have given so much time and effort to pull off another successful event.  We thank them and pray that they get a good rest for all they have done.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15. The day is usually a holy day of obligation for Catholics, but in the the United States, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted this year because the feast day falls on a Saturday, but there will be an 8 AM and a 12 PM Mass celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Church on August 15.